GameStorm 2010 - Portland OR - Mar 25-28

MrFantastic · 02-03-2010, 11:57 AM

GameStorm Building Momentum in Pacific Northwest, expecting record attendance

February 1, 2010, Portland, OR – More than 1000 game players are expected to hit the Portland metro area March 25 – 28, 2010 for Game Storm, the Northwest’s premiere social and strategic games convention. In addition to more than 1000 hours of events, tournaments, special guests and seminars, this non-profit convention features a large Exhibit Hall filled with prominent regional publishers and retailers demonstrating and selling the best in games.

With a night out at the movies for four hovering at $50 or more and the price of gas changing daily, people across the country have rediscovered the fun of a night in, playing games together. Today kids and adults have more games than ever to choose from, with different themes and methods of play, and with different mixes of strategy and social interaction. Board Games, card games, collectible games, roleplaying, miniatures, and live-action games - there’s literally a game for every taste and GameStorm has them all!

Attendees can experience a broad variety of games, from classics like Risk and Dungeons & Dragons, to the newest releases. Learn about the process of creating a game and participate in playtesting new designs at the Game Lab. Find new ways to express yourself though dynamic social interaction at Indie Hurricane. Develop your management and negotiation skills over Settlers of Catan. Perfect your battle strategies across a tabletop with Warmachine and Warhammer 40,000 miniatures. Hone your tactical abilities and quick thinking with Magic card duels. At GameStorm, the fun runs ‘round-the-clock from opening to closing.

GameStorm continues its tradition of bringing attendees the most creative talent in the field. Our 2010 Guests of Honor include: Tom Lehmann, designer of the 2008 card game phenomenon Race for the Galaxy and numerous other titles; Vincent Baker, creator of Dogs in the Vineyard and firmly in the vanguard of “indie” roleplaying design; and Quinton Hoover, a seminal contributor to the look and feel of Magic: The Gathering CCG and countless other card games. Other Special Guests include Richard Garfield, designer of Magic: The Gathering, Robo Rally, Guillotine and many other industry leaders; and Mike Pondsmith, creator of the Castle Falkenstein and Cyberpunk roleplaying games, both of which established new genres in the field.

GameStorm is further pleased cement its relationship with the Portland Schools Foundation. GameStorm is working with the Schools Foundation to encourage the use of games in the classroom to improve learning outcomes. Through the Foundation, selected teachers will be sponsored for “scholarships” to attend the convention free of charge to discover new ways to improve classroom results. And GameStorm is soliciting publishers to donate copies of games and provide educational discounts to area schools. GameStorm is also working with the Foundation to help regional game store owners get more involved with their local schools.

The Portland metro area has experienced an explosion of social gaming activity. Large groups of enthusiastic players gather weekly at Board Game or Roleplaying Meet-Ups on the East and West sides of the city in places like the Lucky Labrador Pubs. Guardian Games in the Inner East, Rainy Day Games in Aloha, Ancient Wonders in Tualatin and Other Worlds Games in Hillsdale are part of a network of at least 8 independent game stores in the region. The Pacific Northwest is also headquarters for many prominent game publishers, some of whom will be at GameStorm, promoting their products and running tournaments and other events. GameStorm is engaging the entire game industry – designers, publishers, distributors, and players – to create a regional industry incubator at its annual convention, creating fun, value, and community in Portland.

Our 2010 venue, the Hilton Vancouver, is situated in downtown Vancouver Washington across from scenic Esther Short Park, just over the bridge from Portland Oregon and just off of I-5. Access from the Portland Airport is effortless.

GameStorm events begin on Thursday, March 25th at 6 p.m. for full weekend members and run until 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 28th. Most events are free with admission - full weekend membership is $40 online until March 1st, or $45 thereafter or at the door, and day rates are available.

For more information, to register or sign up for events, visit www.GameStorm.org or call 503-GAMESTORM (503-426-3786). For room reservations, register via the GameStorm web site or contact the Hilton Vancouver directly at 360-993-4500 and request the GameStorm room rate.

Members of the Media should contact Outreach Coordinator Mark Santillo at masantillo@comcast.net or at (503) 927-5658 for more information or to obtain Press passes.

GameStorm is operated under the auspices of Oregon Science Fiction Conventions Inc., a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt non-profit organization.

02-03-2010, 11:57 AM	#1
MrFantastic Join Date: Oct 2007	GameStorm 2010 - Portland OR - Mar 25-28 GameStorm Building Momentum in Pacific Northwest, expecting record attendance February 1, 2010, Portland, OR – More than 1000 game players are expected to hit the Portland metro area March 25 – 28, 2010 for Game Storm, the Northwest’s premiere social and strategic games convention. In addition to more than 1000 hours of events, tournaments, special guests and seminars, this non-profit convention features a large Exhibit Hall filled with prominent regional publishers and retailers demonstrating and selling the best in games. With a night out at the movies for four hovering at $50 or more and the price of gas changing daily, people across the country have rediscovered the fun of a night in, playing games together. Today kids and adults have more games than ever to choose from, with different themes and methods of play, and with different mixes of strategy and social interaction. Board Games, card games, collectible games, roleplaying, miniatures, and live-action games - there’s literally a game for every taste and GameStorm has them all! Attendees can experience a broad variety of games, from classics like Risk and Dungeons & Dragons, to the newest releases. Learn about the process of creating a game and participate in playtesting new designs at the Game Lab. Find new ways to express yourself though dynamic social interaction at Indie Hurricane. Develop your management and negotiation skills over Settlers of Catan. Perfect your battle strategies across a tabletop with Warmachine and Warhammer 40,000 miniatures. Hone your tactical abilities and quick thinking with Magic card duels. At GameStorm, the fun runs ‘round-the-clock from opening to closing. GameStorm continues its tradition of bringing attendees the most creative talent in the field. Our 2010 Guests of Honor include: Tom Lehmann, designer of the 2008 card game phenomenon Race for the Galaxy and numerous other titles; Vincent Baker, creator of Dogs in the Vineyard and firmly in the vanguard of “indie” roleplaying design; and Quinton Hoover, a seminal contributor to the look and feel of Magic: The Gathering CCG and countless other card games. Other Special Guests include Richard Garfield, designer of Magic: The Gathering, Robo Rally, Guillotine and many other industry leaders; and Mike Pondsmith, creator of the Castle Falkenstein and Cyberpunk roleplaying games, both of which established new genres in the field. GameStorm is further pleased cement its relationship with the Portland Schools Foundation. GameStorm is working with the Schools Foundation to encourage the use of games in the classroom to improve learning outcomes. Through the Foundation, selected teachers will be sponsored for “scholarships” to attend the convention free of charge to discover new ways to improve classroom results. And GameStorm is soliciting publishers to donate copies of games and provide educational discounts to area schools. GameStorm is also working with the Foundation to help regional game store owners get more involved with their local schools. The Portland metro area has experienced an explosion of social gaming activity. Large groups of enthusiastic players gather weekly at Board Game or Roleplaying Meet-Ups on the East and West sides of the city in places like the Lucky Labrador Pubs. Guardian Games in the Inner East, Rainy Day Games in Aloha, Ancient Wonders in Tualatin and Other Worlds Games in Hillsdale are part of a network of at least 8 independent game stores in the region. The Pacific Northwest is also headquarters for many prominent game publishers, some of whom will be at GameStorm, promoting their products and running tournaments and other events. GameStorm is engaging the entire game industry – designers, publishers, distributors, and players – to create a regional industry incubator at its annual convention, creating fun, value, and community in Portland. Our 2010 venue, the Hilton Vancouver, is situated in downtown Vancouver Washington across from scenic Esther Short Park, just over the bridge from Portland Oregon and just off of I-5. Access from the Portland Airport is effortless. GameStorm events begin on Thursday, March 25th at 6 p.m. for full weekend members and run until 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 28th. Most events are free with admission - full weekend membership is $40 online until March 1st, or $45 thereafter or at the door, and day rates are available. For more information, to register or sign up for events, visit www.GameStorm.org or call 503-GAMESTORM (503-426-3786). For room reservations, register via the GameStorm web site or contact the Hilton Vancouver directly at 360-993-4500 and request the GameStorm room rate. Members of the Media should contact Outreach Coordinator Mark Santillo at masantillo@comcast.net or at (503) 927-5658 for more information or to obtain Press passes. GameStorm is operated under the auspices of Oregon Science Fiction Conventions Inc., a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt non-profit organization.